SRINAGAR: Over two lakh people ignored the chilly evening air to give a rousing welcome to Kashmiri leader Shabir Ahmad ‘Shah on his arrival in Srinagar on. Oct.22.
As Shah’s motorcade, comprising more than 400 vehicles, approached the historic Lal Chowk area in the city, the crowd showered flower petals.
Srinagar city, better known in recent times as the city of bunkers, was decorated like a bride on the occasion, Colored flags and banners had been hoisted all along the route through which Shah’s motorcade passed.
‘The last time such a huge timeout of the people was seen in the city was in March 1990, when more than two lakh people demanding freedom, had passed through, the streets of Srinagar. After 15 people died in the firing at that rally, the people of the city ceased to come out onto the streets.
On Saturday, however, the city echoed with the slogans like “We want Freedom,” “Shah, Shabir Shah,”Shabir Shah Shahenshan.” It took his motorcade eight hours to reach Lal Chowk. In his address, Shah said all leaders should sink their differences and come under one banner to flight for self-determination in Jammu and Kashmir. He told the gathering: “I have shunned my party affiliations; I will work for the freedom of J&K. I am not thirsty for power and I will beg for unity.”
After his speech, Shah left for the Martyrs’ graveyard at Idgah in the heart of Srinagar to offer fateh to the “martyrs” there, When he reached the United Nations Military Observers headquarters in Gupkar Road in Srinagar, Shah handed over a memorandum, which read “This is not the first time that multitudes of Kashmiris have assembled here in front of the UN office. We did that always to communicate with the world at large, because we have always believed in civilized methods of protest and communication. And what better way than trying to inform the world conscience about the writing pain inflicted on a peaceful people, about the tyrannies that come our way in seeking justice in a world which has set very high standards of liberty and tolerance?”
“We are here again, trying to speak to the world of untold miseries, destruction and innumerable deaths after our last memorandum to the UN, Can there be any stronger symbol of our belief in civilized methods? We shall persist in our struggle and our ways. And we again appeal to the world body and through it, the world conscience, to take note of the happenings in Jammu and Kashmir and discharge its duty in executing the promises made to us by India. Pakistan and the UN.”
Article extracted from this publication >> October 28, 1994
